Overview
“Bedside manner” refers to empathetic communication skills that clinicians exercise to build trust with patients. Historically, the stigma around substance use disorders has led to an assumption that punitive measures must be taken to correct someone’s behavior. Recent studies show that labeling substance use as “substance abuse” is still associated with less empathy and more punitive attitudes in a clinical setting. Despite what the latest research has shown, a prevalent prejudice is that pain and suffering are just par for substance use and even a component of successful recovery. This can be completely counterproductive as people with substance use disorders and co-occurring conditions face enormous stigma that discourages seeking treatment or efforts to recover. Patients fearing stigma can underreport symptoms or avoid seeking care out of fear of judgment or punitive medical practices.